Charlotte Mayor Arrested: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

The beloved and newly-elected Democratic mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina, Patrick Cannon, was arrested Wednesday morning by the FBI for corruption charges. By Wednesday evening, Cannon had resigned from his position. Cannon was considered a good mayor who was born and raised in Charlotte, and emphasized service and morality.

"Together, let’s write the next chapter so Charlotteans will look back on our progress with amazement and admiration.”

1. He is Accused of Accepting Bribes, a Fancy Hotel Room, and Airfare

Today, Cannon was arrested after being accused by the U.S. District Court of theft, bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, honest services wire fraud and extortion under color of official right.

The Charlotte Observer reports that Cannon is accused of accepting over $48,000 in cash, airlines tickets as well as the use of a luxury apartment as part of a sting operation. According to the Charlotte Observer’s Ely Portillo, agents pretending to be affiliated with the Gold Line streetcar lobbied the mayor.
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From @CLTMayor affidavit: Agents pretended to be developers concerned about Gold Line streetcar getting held up b/c of fed funds…1/2

2. He Was Elected Mayor in 2013

Cannon with New York Mayor Bill de Blasio at a meeting of newly elected mayors. (Getty)

Patrick Cannon’s win in the election of 2013 made him the third consecutive Democratic mayor of Charlotte. He followed Patsy Kinsey who served only a few months to finish Anthony Foxx’s
term as he become the President Obama’s Secretary of Transportation.

However, not everyone was happy with his election. Left as a comment on Cannon’s Facebook page in August 2013, months before the election, the Charlotte Taxi Drivers commented that Cannon was corrupt, took money, and had skeletons in his closet:

3. He Was the Youngest City Councilperson Elected

He served on city council until December 2013 when he was sworn in as mayor.

4. He Allegedly Took Money as an ‘Investment’ in His Feminine Hygiene Product

The investigation of his alleged corruption dates back to his city council days, and in particular, 2010. According to the official affidavit, which you can read above, in 2010 an someone working for the FBI posed as a venture capital investor from Chicago interested in opening bars in Charlotte.

In December 2012, one of the “investors” pledged to give Cannon $12,500 to invest in his “feminine hygiene” product business idea in exchange for assistance with zoning and permitting for the nightclub. According to the affidavit, Cannon also suggested he be compensated with a campaign contribution. Instead, ABC also reports, Cannon went to Las Vegas so that Cannon could convince investors to support the second undercover FBI informant. According to communications quoted in the affidavit, Cannon knew he might be lying to investors in an effort to get money for the undercover agent.

While in Las Vegas, the undercover agent allegedly gave Cannon and his wife $6,000, $1,000 before he met with investors, and $5,000 after.

5. He Faces 10 Years in Prison

Cannon faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, unless he is found guilty of wire fraud, in which case he will serve a maximum of 20 year in prison and be forced to pay a $1,000,000 fine.